Face masks for Secondary Pupils in classrooms

[FatPatty]

I can’t see this being reported anywhere but the Daily Fail are reporting masks to be worn in Secondary schools for first few weeks back.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9287275/Secondary-school-pupils-wear-face-masks-lessons-weeks-school-return-March-8.html

52andblue

I’d talk to the school. We’ve been wearing visors to teach, and I suspect will continue to do so in the classes where we have students who rely on lip reading.

If all the children are wearing masks, and the teacher is keeping 2m away, then the teacher not wearing a mask is not such an issue in terms of spreading the virus, particularly if they wear a visor.

@ChloeDecker

Thank you so much Thimbleberries Have just ordered a box

Great! Hope they work. It's a shame they are so expensive - I hope they can be resued/disinfected somehow, as then it might be possible to get more people wearing them around someone who needs to lip read - schools could perhaps get them for classes of children or something.

@Nith your link doesn't work for me I'm afraid.

This has been mandatory at my daughter's secondary school for months now, since just after Christmas

@FleetwoodRaincoat the vaccines haven't been approved for kids yet ? And it will be july before all adults get vaccinated , plus schools are open already
My teacher friend has quite a fair amount of keyworker children in

Anyone got any idea why they have this rule for only a few weeks? Is there a fixed date where masks won't be needed?

@pinkhappy

Anyone got any idea why they have this rule for only a few weeks? Is there a fixed date where masks won't be needed?

They are saying it’ll be reviewed at Easter.

I feel for the battles teachers face “I’m exempt Sir” “you can’t force me Miss” “my mum says you can’t make me”

Jeezo. Secondary children have been wearing masks all day in Scotland since after the first lockdown and it is both fine and enforced - although it apparently doesn't need much enforcing at my DS's school as the young people there care about each other's health and welfare.

Language teachers stand 2m back and unmask when necessary for pronunciation. PE is unmasked but outside. masks are only removed for eating and being outside. My son's large secondary only had one case between Aug and Dec.

Despite being massively keen on washable masks for environmental reasons, DS prefers a disposable mask for school which is fine, it is a long time to be wearing one.

So hopefully no self isolating half the class when one tests positive then? PPE should negate that, as it does for NHS workers who have a positive contact.

@cptartapp

So hopefully no self isolating half the class when one tests positive then? PPE should negate that, as it does for NHS workers who have a positive contact.

Close contacts of positive cases in secondary will still have to be sent home to self isolate, so that won’t change.

A positive case will also still close class bubbles in primary schools.

Unless you issue staff and students with actual PPE - cloth or disposable basic face coverings are not PPE and I didn't think anyone thought they were?

So if the child wore a ppe mask, the blue ones you can buy that NHS wear?
I'm so glad my DC are going back but suspect bubbles will be bursting left right and centre again.

Wales here; would take the mask wearing....which seems very sensible and long overdue.....over my yr 12 missing a month more of school than her friends who are in English schools. Wish a mask worn in the classroom was our only problem.

I really hope bubbles won't be bursting all over the place but I am not holding my breath

There have been lots of classes and groups self-isolating this last half term even with much lower numbers in school .

And here too @RandomGrammarPun

My teens have never complained about wearing a mask. I've had three occasions where I've struggled, and my DM in her 80s really feels uncomfortable.

I think wearing a mask might be like sleeping on an lumpy bed. You don't notice it much when you're young, but it can be hellish when you're old.

@HoldontoOneMoreDay

Jeezo. Secondary children have been wearing masks all day in Scotland since after the first lockdown and it is both fine and enforced - although it apparently doesn't need much enforcing at my DS's school as the young people there care about each other's health and welfare.

Language teachers stand 2m back and unmask when necessary for pronunciation. PE is unmasked but outside. masks are only removed for eating and being outside. My son's large secondary only had one case between Aug and Dec.

Despite being massively keen on washable masks for environmental reasons, DS prefers a disposable mask for school which is fine, it is a long time to be wearing one.

This is not true they were only required to wear them in corridors and communal areas not the class rooms it's only be a requirement for teachers to wear them in classrooms

I work in a academy that's how I know

That’s what I took away from the statement, yes.
Good, common sense.

I was one of those terrible people who went on holiday in the summer. My primary aged kids wore masks:
In the airport
On the plane (4 hours)
In another airport
On a bus (1 hour)

They coped.

Proviso: those who clinically can’t should, of course, not be stigmatised in any way.

Our son is asthmatic and has no problem with masks whatsoever. I think lots of people who don’t have the condition though have no idea that every single sufferer has different triggers so others with asthma simply can’t, they can’t breathe properly.
That’s one of the reasons I applaud this: everyone who wears their mask is helping to protect those who can’t.

@TinaYouFatLard

You’ve all taken leave of your senses. We’re not just talking about young adults, but 11/12 year olds wearing a mask ALL DAY.

^absolutely this 100%.

Maybe if parents are worried about their kids wearing masks, they can keep them off school.

^absolutely this 100%.

Children in schools across the globe who are far younger have managed perfectly well and there are plenty of breaks during the day when they can be removed and changed.

I think it’s an excellent decision.